DOI Artikel:
Tsarov, Ivan: Sacral inscription from Nicopolis ad Istrum by priests from Novae
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41244#0017
han Tsarov
SACRAL INSCRIPTION FROM NICOPOLIS AD ISTRUM
BY PRIESTS FROM NOYAE
During the archeological excavations of the Roman town of Nicopolis ad
Istrum (near the present day village of Nikyup, Bułgaria) in the area of the
„Residential Building I” an altar was found hewn into dolmitized limestone,
bearing a dedication in Latin.1 The base, with triple profile, is of the following
size: lower part — 0,87 m by 0,70 m; upper part — 0,77 m by 0,7 m; its height
is 1,48 m and it is perfectly preserved.
The inscription is laid in seven lines. The first and second lines occupy two
sections of the profiled upper part, while the rest of the lines was situated in the
upper half of the inscription surface. The letters are uniform in style, carefully
carved and very deeply hewn. The inscription says:
Aug(usto) sacrum
Pro salute Imperato(ris)
L(ucius) Oppius Maximus et L(ucius) Oppius
Ianuarius sacerdotes Matris
Deum et Liberi Patris vexillo
Novesium Oppianorum
Aram de suo posuerunt
The size of the letters in each linę varies which can be duły explained. There
are ligatures in six of the lines.
Linę 1. The letters are higher than in the other lines — 7,5 cm. This could
be accounted for by the greatest significance of the first linę sińce it contains the
motive of the dedicators to erect the altar. At both ends the linę is framed with
stylized ivy leaves. There is point between the two words.
Linę 2. The letters are 5,5 cm to 6,5 cm in height due to the uneąual carving
depth. They are smaller than the ones in the first linę, but still bigger than the
letters in the remaining five lines which bear reference to the significance of the
first part of text being dedicated to the emperor. Again the shortage of space led
to the abbreviation imperato. The letters m and p are connected with ligature. It
is not quite elear whether there is a point between the first and second words.
Linę 3. The height of the letters varies between 4 and 5 cm. Two ligatures:
im and et. Points are visible after the majority of words.
SACRAL INSCRIPTION FROM NICOPOLIS AD ISTRUM
BY PRIESTS FROM NOYAE
During the archeological excavations of the Roman town of Nicopolis ad
Istrum (near the present day village of Nikyup, Bułgaria) in the area of the
„Residential Building I” an altar was found hewn into dolmitized limestone,
bearing a dedication in Latin.1 The base, with triple profile, is of the following
size: lower part — 0,87 m by 0,70 m; upper part — 0,77 m by 0,7 m; its height
is 1,48 m and it is perfectly preserved.
The inscription is laid in seven lines. The first and second lines occupy two
sections of the profiled upper part, while the rest of the lines was situated in the
upper half of the inscription surface. The letters are uniform in style, carefully
carved and very deeply hewn. The inscription says:
Aug(usto) sacrum
Pro salute Imperato(ris)
L(ucius) Oppius Maximus et L(ucius) Oppius
Ianuarius sacerdotes Matris
Deum et Liberi Patris vexillo
Novesium Oppianorum
Aram de suo posuerunt
The size of the letters in each linę varies which can be duły explained. There
are ligatures in six of the lines.
Linę 1. The letters are higher than in the other lines — 7,5 cm. This could
be accounted for by the greatest significance of the first linę sińce it contains the
motive of the dedicators to erect the altar. At both ends the linę is framed with
stylized ivy leaves. There is point between the two words.
Linę 2. The letters are 5,5 cm to 6,5 cm in height due to the uneąual carving
depth. They are smaller than the ones in the first linę, but still bigger than the
letters in the remaining five lines which bear reference to the significance of the
first part of text being dedicated to the emperor. Again the shortage of space led
to the abbreviation imperato. The letters m and p are connected with ligature. It
is not quite elear whether there is a point between the first and second words.
Linę 3. The height of the letters varies between 4 and 5 cm. Two ligatures:
im and et. Points are visible after the majority of words.